Fixture holder



May 5, 1964 w. WHIPPLE FIXTURE HOLDER Filed June 20, 1962 BY M 4free/v5 YS United States Patent Oliice 3,131,928 Patented May 5., 1964 3,131,928 FIXTURE HOLDER Waiter L. Whipple, 1615 North Blvd., Idaho Falls, Idaho Fiied Tinne 2t?, 1962, Ser. No. 203,983 4 Claims. (Cl. 269-224) This invention relates to a xture holder, and has as its primary `object the provision of an apparatus by means of which an electrician may hold an elongated iixture, such as a fluorescent light support in position against the ceiling while working on one `or the otherends thereof during installation or repair. A

An additional `object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be readily adjusted to accommodate diiierent heights of iixtures at different ceiling heights.

A i'urther object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which, `when set, will hold la tix- .tllre without further adjustment.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be readily attached to the upper steps of a conventional step ladder, thus avoiding the necessity of additional door and ceiling supporting means or the like.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a de-vice of this character which may be readily removed when the necessity for its use no longer exists.

Still other objects reside in the combinations'of elements, larrangements of parts, and 'features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of the device of the instant invention shown as applied to the top steps of a step ladder, and supporting a xture in place against the ceiling, the -xture being partially broken away to show constructional details. Y

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the construction of FIGURE 1 in extended position, with portions of the step ladder and portions of the xture being broken away.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially through the center line of the device showing the interior construction thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 yas viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the center line `of 5-5 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the support of the instant invention is generally indicated at 1i), and is shown as mounted on a step ladder, generally indicate-d at 11, and including a top step 12 and successive lower steps 13. The latter is of conventional style including divided rails 14 and 15 held in extended position by the usual brace 16. The device of the instant invention is adapted to hold any sort of elongated fixture 17 in position against the ceiling 18 of a room or the like during installation, modication, or repair, without the necessity of the operator or workman employing his hands for this purpose.

Referring now in detail to the device of the instant invention, the same is comprised of an elongated tubular member 20 which is provided with a pair of slidable clamping rings 21 positioned about the periphery thereof, each ring being provided as shown best in FIGURE 4 with a pair of ears 22 Iwhich are apertured to receive a bolt 23 which is provided with a clamping wing nut 24. The bolt 23 also extends through la suitable aperture in a tongue 25 ot a clamping bracket, which includes a pair of opposed jaw members -26 and 27, the latter of which is apertured to receive an adjusting screw 28 having a handle pin 29 and a clamping foot 30 thereon. The arrangement is thus such that the clamping rings 21 may be moved, by loosening wing nut 24 to any desired position along the length of tubular member 20, and clamped securely in position, the jaws 26 and 27 then extending on opposite sides of the step 12 and one of the steps`13, or ymternatively, one or more of the steps 13, or as shown in FIGURE 2, to one of the side rails 31 of a bucket supporting bracket. 32 such as is conventional with step ladders `ot this character. p

Similarly, it will be seen from a consideration of FIG- URES l and 2, that the rings 21 maybe rotated so that the jaws 26 and v2" extend either in the same directions or are angularly disposed relative to each other.

Tubular member 20 also carries `adjacent its upper end 33 a movable split ring K34, as best shown in FIGURE 5; from the ends of which extend apertured lugs 35.' A bolt 36 is fitted through the kapertures in lugs 35 and forms a pivot for one end of a link 37. A wing nut 36 on bolt 36 clamps ring 34 to tubular member 20. The yother end of link 37 is pivoted as by a pin 38 to the offset portion 39 of yan elongated handle member including an operating end 4t) adapted to be moved by hand, and a pivotally mounted end 41. 4

The pivotally mounted end `41 is pivoted as by a pivot 42 to a depending portion 43 'of an end cap 44 which is mounted on a sleeve 45 telescopically movable within tubular member 20. End cap -44 is apertured as at 46 to receive a rod 47, which is secured therein by means of a pin 4S, and which is biased upwardly by a relatively heavy compression spring 439 which seats against lthe bottom '59 of sleeve 45.

The top portion of rod 47 is internally threaded to rreceive a screw 51, which is rotatably mounted therein, and which carries at its outer or upper end a head 52 which is engaged by a circular cap member 53 containing a. rubber cushion or other suitable resilient element 54 which is adapted to engage against the fixture 17 when in use. Head 52 may be readily changed in an obvious manner to accommodate different lixtures if necessary.

From the lforegoing the use and operation of the device should now be readily understandable. Clamping brackets 26 and 27 are suitably adjusted and secured by means of screws 28 and clamping heads 30 to the steps or other portions of the ladder 11 as may be desired. Tube 20 is adjusted by rings 21 to bring head 52 within 4 to 6 inches Iof the ceiling with the handle l40 in the position of FIGURE 3. Retraction of handle 4G to the position of FIGURE 1 extends sleeve 45 and its associated mechanism. A heavy or light deg-ree of upward pressure may be yobtained by the fine adjustment of movable ring [34, which varies the degree of compression of spring 49. When handle 4t) is in the position of FIGURE 3, the lweight of the fixture 17 is supported by cap 44 resting on tube 2G, leaving ring 34 free for tine adjustment. The operator may then work thereon without any further necessity of supporting the fixture by the hands, or by any other means. After the fixture 17 has been completely installed, or repaired, or operated on in such other manner as may be necessary, simply raising the handle 40 will retract the sleeve 45 into the tubular member 20, and by loosening the screws l2S by means of the handle members 29 the device may be removed from the ladder for subsequent use in another location. Obviously, if desired, the 'device may remain permanently atiixed to the ladder, and adjusted yonly in accordance with the ceiling height, or'ithe xture which is being operated upon.

While this invention has been particularly described in connection with a step ladder, it is to be understood that it may beiused -for other purposes and with other supports, asfor example, theY device may be clamped to a conventional scaffold plank as used by many mechanics.

-From the foregoing it will now be seen that Athere is herein provided an improvedxture holder which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of gre-ater practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made -in the vembodiment herenbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that/all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a` limiting sense. p I claim: '1. A Ysupport for xtures comprised of ajirst tubular member, means for securingsaid tubular member to the upper-step of a step ladder, a sleeve telescopically mounted in said tubular member, a ixture holding rod extending upwardlyfrom said sleeve, a spring in said sleeve Vbiasing said rod upwardly, a rst lug connected to said sleeve, -a second lug connected to saidtubular member, a handle having an offset portion pivotally connected to said trst lug, and a' link pivoted at one end to said offset portion of said handle and at its other end to said second lug lwhereby movement of said handle downwardly extends said sleeve relative to said tubular member and by an over-center action holds said .sleeve yand hence said rod n extended position.` Y

` 2."A support [for -xtures comprised of a rst tubular member, means -forsecuring said tubularmember to the upper step of a step ladder, a sleeve telescopically mounted in said tubular member, a xture holding rod extendin-g upwardly from said sleeve, a spring in said sleeve biasing lsaid. rod upwardly, a rst lug connected to said sleeve, a second :lug connected to said tubular member, a handle having an offset portion -pivotally connected to said rstlug, and la llink pivoted at one end -to said olset portion of said handle and at its other end to said second lug` whereby movement ofisaid handle downwardly extends'said sleeve relative to vsaid tubular member and by an over-center action holds said sleeve and hence said rod .in extended position, `said sleeve having an end cap throughwhich said rod extends and to which said first lug Vis secured, Y, l Y

, 4 K 3. A support for xtures comprised of a rst tubular member, means for securing said tubular member to the upper step of a'step ladder, a sleeve telescopically mount` ed in said tubular member, ;a ttixture holding rod extending upwardly from said sleeve, a spring in said sleeve biasing said rod upwardly, a rst lug connected to said sleeve, la second 'lug connected to said tubular member, a handle having an oiset portion pivotally connected vto said trst lug, and a link pvoted at one end to said oiset portion of said handle and at its other :end to said second lug-whereby movement of said handle downwardly extends vsaid `sleeve relative/to saidtubular member and by an over-center vaction holds said sleeve and hence Vsaid rod in extendedposition, said sleeve having anjend cap through ywhich said rodA extends and to which said first lug is secured, said rod having an internally threaded bo're at its'iipp'erend, a screwcarried in said bore, and a rubber fixture engaging head carried by the upper end of saidscrew. 1

4. A support forixtures comprised of a iirst tubul-ar member, means forsecuring said tubularmember to the upper step of a step ladder, a sleeve telescopically mounted Yinsaid tubular member, a ixture holding rod extending upwardly from` said sleeve, a spring `in said sleeve biasing said rod upwardly, a rst lug connected'tosaid sleeve, a second lug connected to said t-ubular'member, a Ihandle having an 'olset portion pivotally connected to said-rst lug, and a link pivoted` at one end to said olset portion of said handle and at its other end to said second lug whereby movement of Vsaid handle downwardly extends said sleeve lrelative tosaid tubular member. and by an over-center action holds said sleeve and hence said rod in extended position, .said sleeve having an end cap through which said rod extends and -to which said first lug is secured, said means for securing said tubular member to said step comprising linearly adjustable clamping brackets onsaid tubular member.

References rCited in the tile of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,216,610 Rosenbaum Feb.Y 2o, 1917 2,593,533 Cieveiand ,Apr.22, 19152 '2,937,842' Meek May 24, 1960Y 3,061,041 f Taylor Oct. 30, 1962 y 3,090,600 Smith vMay 21, 

1. A SUPPORT FOR FIXTURES COMPRISED OF A FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO THE UPPER STEP OF A STEP LADDER, A SLEEVE TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, A FIXTURE HOLDING ROD EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID SLEEVE, A SPRING IN SAID SLEEVE BIASING SAID ROD UPWARDLY, A FIRST LUG CONNECTED TO SAID SLEEVE, A SECOND LUG CONNECTED TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, A HANDLE HAVING AN OFFSET PORTION PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST LUG, AND A LINK PIVOTED AT ONE END TO SAID OFFSET PORTION OF SAID HANDLE AND AT ITS OTHER END TO SAID SECOND LUG WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE DOWNWARDLY EXTENDS SAID SLEEVE RELATIVE TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND BY AN OVER-CENTER ACTION HOLDS SAID SLEEVE AND HENCE SAID ROD IN EXTENDED POSITION. 